Imagine that you're on track to attend law school but discover that those sexy photos you had taken for a private modeling website leaked and were being posted by media outlets worldwide. What's an aspiring attorney to do? Take legal recourse, naturally.
Shana Edme, a former model, is suing Internet Brands dba ModelMayhem.com, MediaTakeout.com LLC, and Domains By Proxy LLC dba Bossip.com, in Federal Court for releasing private photos of her wearing lingerie. The complainant claims she had trusted the website's privacy policy that required "explicit permission" to share photos when she uploaded the revealing snaps to ModelMayhem.com in 2008.
And it gets worse. Three years later, after Edme decided to drop modeling and began working for "a large law firm," websites began posting the pictures along with derogatory and sexual comments, falsely identifying her as Kimora Lee Simmons' sister. MediaTakeout.com, one of the defendants in the case, has a particularly noteworthy headline:
WOWZERS!! WE GOT PICS OF KIMORA LEE SIMMONS' YOUNGER SISTER ... IN LINGERIE!! (LOOKS LIKE KIMMY ... ONLY THICK) Her name is Shana Lee.... and she looks just like her big sis Kimmy.
Kimora Lee Simmons quickly cleared up the confusion on her blog, denying that Edme was her sister:
Today, it was brought to my attention that there is recently published story on the internet claiming I have a younger sister who is a model. This story is not true as I do not have a sister. I felt the need to clear up any confusion or questions.
Adding to the embarrassment, Bossip.com reported on Simmons' update with a headline that read: "That Lil Trashy Lingerie Wearing Heffa Is NOT My Sister." Edme claims that all of this unwanted media attention caused "emotional distress, humiliation and damage to her employment - and personal relationships."
The future lawyer (well, maybe) is seeking $3 million in punitive damages, claiming that the defendants violated New York State privacy laws. What's your take on the case? Tell us your verdict in the comments below.
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